Park Place Names

Other place names around the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area

An Caisteal –Gaelic, castle –this castle is a Munro near Crianlarich, near Cruach Ardrain –high mountain.

Ardlui –the height (high ground) of the calves.

Ardentinny –Aird an teine –the height of the fire (meaning a warning beacon). Or possibly Aird an t-seannaich –height of the fox.

Arrochar Alps –though first seen in print only in 1946 by climber Ben Humble, now widely used as it is a convenient term, the place name Arrochar has a meaning much disputed! Possibly from Latin aratrum then arachor, ultimately meaning a portion of ploughed land –basically a land measurement (cf Scots davoch).

Balloch –bealach –pass.

Balmaha –perhaps bal maitheas ‘township of mercy’ OR connected with St Maha, as there is a St Maha’s well nearby.

Balquhidder –baile-chuidir –with the bal (baile) part common in Scotland, meaning a township. The second part is a mystery, though some think it means backward-lying country.

Ben An –am binnean –pinnacle.

Ben Donich –dona –evil mountain but nobody knows why!

Ben Ledi –perhaps ‘beinn an leothaid’ mountain of the gentle slope. Others say beinn-le-dhia –mountain of god, because of association with ancient festivals.

Ben Vane –mheadhoin –middle.

Ben Venue –uaimh –caves

Ben Vorlich –another example of a name with several explanations - perhaps beinn mhor loch - mountain of the big loch OR beinn mhor-luig- mountain of the big hollow or corrie OR beinn mhuir’lag –mountain of the bays OR beinn mhor-leacach - big slabby or stony mountain.